We did it! It’s finally here! We received our finalization document! We are now and forever a family and legal parents to our daughter.

What a great feeling it was to receive this formal acknowledgment of what we already felt in our hearts. We had waited almost a year for our adoption application to be reviewed by a judge and hoped there wouldn’t be any hiccups or delays in the approval. Our private adoption took many different roads and many turns but this definitely feels like crossing the finish line. There were no whistles or any cheers, but we were jumping and hugging our little one just a little bit tighter. For us, this was the biggest “Win” of all.

After all the waiting, this moment had come true for us. Of course, we had been parenting our daughter for the most part of the year, however, receiving the official paperwork and being formally recognized as her legal parents means the world to us. It has solidified my role as her mother and I no longer feel the need to explain to others how our family came about. I’m just her mom.

Other great things that come with an adoption finalization is that we are now free to get a new birth certificate, SIN card and passport for her. This means opportunities and hope for us to travel outside of our province for the first time as a family without having to notify anyone beforehand. Imagine the freedom! We can just go on with our lives and enjoy each other. This also means important other things like the fact that my daughter can now become a dependent on our benefits plan as she is now legally our child and we can claim the adoption tax and maybe get a little bit of help on our tax return.

These are wonderful, helpful resources for us. But the best part, honestly, is to be done with all that paperwork! Until next time, of course.

My advice to anyone waiting, keep up the hope. It does and will happen in its time, and it’s worth it. Every tear, every sleepless night, every failed match. It all comes down to the best match for you in its right time.

1 888 274 6222 x 106

Adopt4Life

We support Adoptive families in Ontario

Adopt4life is a non-profit organization based in Toronto, Ontario providing support and guidance to adoptive families throughout their journey from the moment they are matched with their children through to adulthood. We help adoptive parents through the adoption process.